Urges International Community to finally recognize Hamas’ True Intentions

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

Hamas has no interest in peace with Israel. The terrorist organization broke the latest internationally brokered cease-fire hours after it took effect, with a string of offensive actions, including using its terror tunnel system to launch a suicide bomber at Israeli soldiers—killing two—kidnapping an Israeli soldier and continuing to fire missiles into Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry strongly condemned Hamas for shattering the cease-fire. Kerry said the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier and the murder of two others is “an outrageous violation of the cease-fire negotiated over the past several days, and of the assurances given to the United States and the United Nations.” Kerry also noted the international community must commit to ending “the tunnel and rocket attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israel.”

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said a kidnapping by Hamas would “constitute a grave violation of the cease-fire, and one that is likely to have very serious consequences for the people of Gaza, Israel and beyond.” Ban also noted that the kidnapping would “call into question the credibility of Hamas’ assurances to the United Nations.”

This cease-fire violation should once and for all demonstrate to the international community that Hamas’ only goal is the destruction of Israel.